Heathkit Daytona (1969–1970)
The Heathkit Daytona - formally the CB-12 - was a 23-channel AM CB radio transceiver sold as a build-it-yourself kit by the Heath Company of Benton Harbor, Michigan. It was positioned as a first CB radio for the novice operator, a basic mobile unit for local communication. The June 1960 issue of Audio magazine (p.68) describes a nearby Florida audio enthusiast community, though the Daytona itself was not yet in production at that time. The production date is slightly murky. Most sources point to 1970, though at least one suggests 1969. Either way, it was a solid-state, transistorized mobile rig running on 12 VDC, with a compact cabinet designed for mounting in a vehicle.
The kit's assembly manual is itself a collectible. It lists for $89.95, which appears to be the manual's price rather than the radio's. The manual describes a dual-conversion receiver with 2W audio output. The transmitter was rated at what was likely the standard 5 watts for CB at the time, though that figure is stated as probable rather than confirmed. Some source material mentions "6-transistor receiver" and "4-transistor transmitter" - almost certainly a typo for "tube" in the original document, since the Daytona was explicitly an all-solid-state design.
Surviving documentation is thin on performance data. There are no sensitivity figures, no frequency response and no distortion numbers. What the record does show is that the Daytona was a serviceable, straightforward CB radio for basic local communication. Modern collectors in the ham community have taken an interest in it. The common failure point is the voltage regulator, which eventually needs replacement. Some owners have also attempted to modify the set beyond its standard 23-channel operation. The internal electronics can overheat if pushed.
The Daytona sits in an odd spot for a Heathkit product. It's a CB transceiver rather than the hi-fi audio gear the company is better known for, but it shares the same kit-building approach as the rest of the catalog.
Known Specs
- 23-channel AM CB transceiver
- Solid-state, transistorized mobile chassis
- 12 VDC power
- Dual-conversion receiver, 2W audio output
- Sold as a kit with assembly manual
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